Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-07-12
HEALTH OF THE STATE.
Sickness Limited During the Month I
June and no Epidemics.


June and no Epidemics.
The report for June of DR.. G. G. Tyrrell,
Permanent Secretary of the State Board of
Health, states that reports received from
nearly one hundred localities show that
sickness throughout the State was exceed
ingly limited during the month OF June,
and that no epidemic existed in any of the
localities heard from The diseases most
frequently mentioned as might have been
anticipated at this season of the year, were
diarrhea, dysentery and cholera infantum.
The warm weather which prevailed, to-
gether with the abundance OF fresh fruits
and vegetables, contributed in no small de-
gree to the increase of these diseases. That
high temperature has great influence in
inducing looseness of the bowels is gener-
ally conceded, still there are good reasons
for believing that polluted atmosphere,
and food contaminated by absorbing the
pollutions contained therein, are the direct
causes. This is especially true of milk,
which has a remarkable affinity for i'm
purities. sit is well known" says DR..
Kennedy, that milk placed in pantry or
cellar with tainted meat, cheese or decay
ing vegetables will soon become so dete-
riorated that no withdrawing animal will
touch it, except the human baby, that has
no choice but to drink it or starve." Death
turks in such food, and the fearful mortal
ity among children amply demonstrates it.
Perhaps it would not be amiss, during
the summer season, to warn the public,
through its medical advisers, that poisoning
by stale animal foods is of frequent occur
renee in warm weather. 1t was discovered
by Selmi some years since that decomposi-
ton of animal matter gives rise to very
vlrulent poison, the absorption of which
into the system may cause speedy death
1t remained, however, for NJ. Gautier to
discover that every living organism is con-
tlnually manufacturing alkaloid poisons
which he calls Leucomaines," which, in
normal health, are so small in quantity
and so regularly eliminated from the body,
that no harm arises from their effects, but
should this elimination be arrested, him
dered or delayed, the renewal of the tissues
must be equally so, and thus self-poison-
ing take place from the accumulation of
these poisonous alkaloids in the blood
Hence, he thinks, arises many of those in
fictitious diseases, the origin of which we
cannot trace. The lesson to be derived
from this important discovery is that want
OF cleanliness, privation, over fatigue, ir-
regularity OF living or anything that dis
turbs the normal functions of the body, is
liable to be followed by the development of
disease, and that all food consumed should
be perfectly fresh, and without suspicion of
faint of any kind.
Consumption, as usual fills large meas
ure OF our mortality list, one hundred and
twenty-one deaths being recorded from this
cause during the month, which, however,
is large decrease from the preceding
months report. The apparent large NOR
tally from consumption must be attributed
to the large immigration into this State of
those whose lungs are so hopelessly dis
eased as to render their death certain soon
after their advent to these shores. Another
factor, which must be considered as a con-
tributor to the frequency of consumption
on this coast, is the fact that consumptives
rarely take any precaution to limit the dis
ease to themselves. We find them crowd
ing to our health resorts, and contamina-
ting with their sputa everything in their
vicinity. This, desiccated by the atmos-
sphere, is carried with its infective bacilli
to the lungs of the healthy, and there, in
those persons susceptible to the pois IN, it
rapidly develops into the tubercular dis
| ease, which will, with rapiditv and GER
talnty, add another victim to the mortality
list. Consumptives should not be permit
ted to sleep in the same room with well
persons, their sputa should be thoroughly
disinfected, and every sanitary precaution
taken to destroy all sources of contagion in
those affected
Smallpox prevails to some degree in
San Francisco. We are not informed BY
| the Health Officer of the actual number of
cases, but they are certainly so far, limited.
Advices have been received of the develop
ment of cases in the town of Iryington, one
| OF them quite severely attacked. They will
be promptly isolated and quarantined, so
that no danger need be apprehended. Vigi-
lance in isolating and quarantining the dis
ease wherever found, together with thor
ough vaccination of the well, will surely
prevent it from getting a foothold in our
midst. All cases occurring. whether in the
palace of the rich, or the shanty of the
poor, should be at once reported to the
nearest Health Officer. TO neglect this
duty is criminal, and ought to be punished.